Self-inking hand stamp



May 21, 1963 SELF-INKING HAND STAMP Filed Aug. 5, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Il @719,11 I

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| mwl HVOol/I H. P. KEcK 3,090,305

May 2l, 1963 H. P. KEcK SELF-INKING HAND STAMP Filed Aug. 5, 1960 3,090,305 SELF-INKING HAND STAMP Harold P. Keck, Crystal Lake, Ill., assigner of one-half to Jack W. Robbins and one-fourth to Bernard Robbins, both of Chicago, Ill.

Filed Aug. 5, 1960, Ser. No. 47,750 6 Claims. (Cl. lol-334) This invention relates to a self-inking hand stamp.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a selfinking hand stamp having an ink container and a roller whereby ink is fed to the roller and the roller is rotated with each actuation of the hand stamp to present a new inking surface for engagement by the printing unit, thus providing for an even, uniform and continuous distribution of ink to the printing unit.

The present day hand stamps have Ibeen found very deficient in that the printing unit repeatedly engages the same surface portion of the inking pad, which causes serious objections in that the ink from the pad is used up in `a relatively short time; also, the pad becomes worn. As a result of this condition the ink pad must be reinked after a relatively short period of use. In addition, present ink pads will not only ink the type but will also ink the band and other portions of the printing unit which is not required, consequently the printing unit becomes messed up with unnecessary ink. These objectionable features are entirely eliminated with the present invention in that there is provided an ink container positioned above the printing unit, the ink container having a roller at the lower end thereof whereby the ow of ink to the roller is by gravity feed and the construction is such that with each actuation of the hand stamp the roller is rotated to expose a new inking surface, thus, as the hand stamp is operated a new inking surface is presented each time for engagement with the printing unit and the ink from the roller surface is uniformly spread only to the type on the type band of the printing unit. The objections inherent in the prior art devices are eliminated with the use of the present invention.

Another object of this invention is to provide a unit in which the ink container may be readily replaced or refilled and wherein messy handling of same is entirely eliminated, as is customary in the case Where ink pads or the like are used with present day constructions.

Other objects will become -apparent as this description progresses.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a view of the hand stamp in its up position.

FIGURE 2 is a side view of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a view taken on lines 3 3 of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 4 is a view taken on lines 4 4 of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 5 is a view taken on lines 5-5 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a view taken on lines 6-6 of FIGURE l, but showing the printing unit in engagement with the inking roller and the tripping member in position to actuate the inking roller.

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 6, but showing the position of the printing unit just prior to the completion of the upstroke of the depressible frame and the position of the ink container before it is returned to its center position.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the gear on the depressible sub-frame.

FIGURE 9 is a View similar to FIGURE 1, but with the hand stamp in depressed or printing position.

FIGURE 10 is a side view of FIGURE 9, and

FIGURE l1 is a cross-sectional View of the ink container and inking roller.

The unit comprises a main base frame generally indicated at 10, and a depressible sub-frame generally in- ICC dicated at 12. The depressible sub-frame 12 carries the printing unit, as well as the ink container and inking roller and is so constructed that the printing unit is normally positioned in its up position in ofi-center relation to the nking roller, and when the depressible sub-frame is del pressed the printing unit will move through center engaging the inking roller to ink the printing type, and the printing unit will then continue downwardly to printing position. As the printing unit moves from its initial olfcenter to center position the inking roller will be rotated to present a new inking surface to the printing unit. On the return or upstroke of the depressible frame the printing unit in returning to its initial position passes the center position of the ink container and roller, thereby pivoting the ink container to olf-center and allowing the printing unit to move to its normal olf-center position, ready for the next manual actuation of the stamp. The ink container and roller will return toits center position.

The main base frame 10 has a pair of side members 14- and 16 connected by a top cross-member 18. A portion l of each of the side members is widened as at 14 and 16.

A bottom plate 19 with upwardly extending ears 20 is secured by suitable screws 21 to the side members 14 and Rubber gaskets 23 having projections 24 lare secured in slots 25 in the bottom plate 19.

Secured to the top cross-member 18' of the main base frame 10 and extending upwardly thereof is a rod 26. The top cross-member 18 has a pair of spaced slots 28 to slidingly accommodate the sides of the depressible subframe, to be described.

The depressible sub-frame generally indicated at 12 includes a pair of spaced side members 30 and 32 which are slidable in the slots 28. A top cross-member 34 having side ears 35 is secured to the sides of the depressible subframe by fastening members 36. A tubular handle 38 is rigidly secured in a circular opening in the top cross-member 34. A knob 39 is secured to .the top of the tubular base frame 10.

The printing unit generally indicated at 4Z includes a frame having a pair of spaced side members 44 and 46 connected across one end by a cross-plate 48. A shaft 50 is secured` to theside members 44 and 46 of the printing unit and a plurality of spools are supported thereon, on each of which is a continuous type band B. Each of the spools has a disc D with a serrated surface for rotating the spool and the corresponding type band, well known in the art. The type bands rotate over the crossplate 48 which is the printing end of the printing unit.

The printing unit 42 is supported on the sides of the depressible sub-frame 12 so as to be rotated from its up position to its down or printing position through an arc of approximately 190. The side member 46 of the frame of the printing unit 42 has a laterally extending pin 52 which is received within an opening in the side 32 of the depressible sub-frame 12.

Extending from the opposite side frame and rigidly secured thereto is 44 of the printing a pin 54 which extends through an opening in side member 36 of the depressible sub-frame V12, and rigidly secured on said pin exteriorly of said side member 30 is a small gear 56 which when rotated operates to rotate the printing unit 42. Rotatably mounted on the side member 30 as at S8, in vertical alignment with small gear 56, is a larger gear 60 in mesh with small gear 56. VThe larger gear 60 is best shown in FIGURE 8 and said gear has a pair of pins 62 and 63 fixed thereon.

The widened side portion 14' of side member 14 of the main base frame has a pair of spaced cam slots 64 and 66, best seen in FIGURES 2 and l0, in which the pins 62 and 63, respectively, ride when the sub-frame .I2 is depressed to rotate the large gear 60 which rotates the small gear 56 and thereby rotates the printing unit 42 from its up position, shown in FIGURE l, to its down or printing position, shown in FIGURE 9, and then back up to its up position each timethe handle is depressed and released. The lower end of cam slot 64 continues as a vertical slot 64. While cam slot 64 and pin 63 serve to rotate the printing unit 42, as described, the pin `62. in engagement with the vertical slot 64' will stabilize the printing unit in its down or printing position shown in FIGURE 9. Y

It will be seen that the side member 46 of the frame of the printing unit 42 is channel shaped, as best seen in FIGURE 6, and said side member supports a bar 68 which is xedly secured to the side member as at 70e. Said bar has an inclined upper edge 72 which extends above the plane of the top cross-plate 48 of the printing unit. Said inclined upper edge 72 acts as a tripping member to engage the ratchet on the inking roller to rotate the roller, as will be described.

The inking mechanism includes an ink container generally indicated at 76 and a roller generally indicated at 78 which receives the ink from the container and transfers it to the type band B on the printing unit 42. The ink container comprises a rectangular shaped housing of a length to be fixed and pivotally Secured between the sides 30 and 32 of the depressible sub-frame 12 by pins 80 secured to the sides 30 and 32 and engaging the ink container.

The ink container housing 76 has a threaded opening 77 at the front thereof for filling the ink container, which is closed by a threaded plug 79. The bottom of the ink container 76, best shown lin FIGURE ll, has a concavely shaped bottom Wall 81 which is provided with a central longitudinal slot 82. The roller 78 is supported to be in engagement with the concave bottom wall 81 and to close the longitudinal slot 82. The roller 7S is formed preferably of steel and is supported on a shaft 84 which has its opposite ends engaging the opposite end walls of the ink container 76. A ratchet 86 is fixed to the shaft 84 adjacent one end to be engaged by the tripping member 72 as the depressible sub-frame -12 is depressed, thus rotating the inking roller 78 a distance of one tooth each time the printing unit 42 is moving from its nonprinting to printing position, to continuously present a new inking surface.

The ink I in the ink container 76 is a printers ink Vor is similar to the ink used in ball point pens and iiows by gravity on to the inking roller 78. The inking roller is rotated with each actuation ofthe handle 38 so that a new inking surface is constantly being presented to the printing unit.

The side member 32 of the depressible sub-frame `12 has an inwardly extending stop lug -88 (FIGURE l) to limit the pivotal movement of the ink container 72 in one direction, that is, it will limit the pivotal movement of the ink container 72 to the left, as viewed in FIGURE 6, and thus maintain the ink container in center position, as shown in said ligure, as the printing unit 42 moves from its off-center or initial starting position, as shown substantially in FIGURE 7, through center, as in FIGUR-E 6, and past center on its downstroke, as indicated by arrow A in FIGURE 6. In its fully up position the printing unit 42 is positioned approximately 10 off center or slightly more to the right than that shown in FIGURE 7 and moves through an arc of approximately 180 from said position. to its printing position, as in FIGURE 9.

On the return or upstroke of the sub-frame 12, t-he printing unit 42 will rotate in the direction reverse to arrow A and will engage the roller 78 of the ink container 76 -as the printing unit reaches center, and as the printing unit 42 passes center and moves to its resting off-center position, shown in FIGURE 7, it will pivot the ink container 76 to the right, as shown in FIGURE 7, to permit the printing unit to pass under the inking roller 78.

After the printing unit has passed the ink container a fiat spring (FIGURE 3) on the side member 30 of the depressible sub-frame in engagement with the ink container will move the ink container back to center position, as in FIGURE 6. The flat spring 90 is opposite to the stop member 88. When the ink container 76 is moved to its oft-center position, as in FIGURE 7, it is against the bias of spring 90, thus insuring the return of the ink container 76 to its center position, as in FIGURE 6.

ln normal undepressed or up position, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the printing unit 42 is approximately 10 off-center or slightly more to the right than shown in FIGURE 7 andis not in engagement with the inking rolier 7S. However, when the handle 38 is engaged `and manually depressed, the printing unit 42 will be caused to rotate or move to center to engage the inking roller 78 to ink the type on the printing unit; simultaneously the tripping member 72 will engage the ratchet 86 to rotate same one tooth in the direction of arrow C (FIGURE 6), thereby rotating the inking roller 78 the space of one tooth to expose a new ink surface.

As the handle 38 is being depressed the printing unit 4'2 will rotate, as indicated by arrow A in FIGURE 6, to move to its down or printing position, as shown in FIGURE 9. Upon release of the handle and as the depressible sub-frame 12 moves upwardly due to the spring 4i), the printing unit 42 will rotate in the reverse direction to that indicated by arrow A in FIGURE 6 and assume the position shown in FIGURE 7. The spring 90 will return the ink container to its center position as shown in FIGURE 6. On the return or upstroke of the printing unit no rotation is imparted to the ratchet 86, thus, only on the downstroke of each actuation is the inking roller rotated. The ink container may be readily refilled through the opening 77 by removal of the plug 79. Also, if vdesired, the ink container may be replaced with a new ink container by making the pins S0 retractable to accommodate replaceable ink containers.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made from the foregoing without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A self-inking hand stamp comprising a base frame, a depressible sub-frame supported by said base frame, a printing unit rotatably supported at the lower end of said sub-frame to rotate upon the depression of said depressible sub-frame, an ink container secured to said subframe above said printing unit, lan opening at the lower end of said ink container, -a roller rotatably supported at the lower end of said ink container and blocking said opening but adapted to receive the ink from said ink container by gravity flow, means on said printing unit and on said roller cooperating to rotate said roller with each downward actuation of said depressible sub-frame to expose a new inking surface on said roller to said printing unit before said printing unit engages said inking roller, said means permitting said printing unit to return on the upstroke without rotating said roller.

2. A self-inking hand stamp comprising a base frame, a depressible frame member supported in said base frame, a printing unit having a frame member supported by said depressible frame member, means for rotating said printing unit upon each depression of said depressible sub-frame, an ink container `supported by said depressible frame above said printing unit, said ink container having an inkng roller at the lower end thereof adapted to receive the ilow of ink from said container by a gravity How, a gear cooperating with said roller, a tripping member on said printing unit adapted to engage said gear upon downward actuation of said depressible sub-frame member to rotate said roller to present a new inking surface for said printing unit before said printing unit engages said inking roller, said gear and tripping member permitting said printing unit to return on the upstroke without rotating said roller.

3. A self-inking hand stamp comprising a base frame, a depressible sub-frame supported on said base frame, a printing unit supported on the lower end of said subframe, an ink container secured to the depressible subframe above said printing unit and movable relative thereto, an inking roller rotatably secured at the lower end of said ink container, means for normally positioning said printing unit in off center relation with respect to said roller, means for moving said printing unit from said off center position to engagement with said inking roller and downwardly to printing position upon depression of said depressible sub-frame, means carried by isaid printing unit and said roller engaging each other to rot-ate said roller upon the depression of said depressible sub-frame to expose a new inking surface, said printing unit upon the return stroke of said sub-frame `adapted to move said inl: container to permit said printing -unit to pass the center and return to off center position.

4. In a structure defined in claim 3 in which the ink container is pivotally movable relative to the sub-frame.

5. A self-inking hand stamp comprising a base frame, a depressible sub-frame supported on said base frame, a printing unit supported on the lower end of said subfrarne, an ink container pivotally secured to the depressible sub-frame above said printing unit to permit pivoting of the ink container on the upstroke of the sub-frame in the direction of the return movement of said printing unit, an inking roller rotatably secured at the lower end of said ink container, means for normally positioning said printing unit in off center relation with respect to said roller, means for moving said printing unit from tsaid off center position to engagement with said inking roller and downwardly to printing position upon depression of said depressible subframe, means carried by said printing unit and l'said roller engaging each other to rotate said roller upon the depression of said depressible sub frame to expose a new inking surface, said printing unit upon return upst'roke of said sub-frame adapted to pivot said ink container in the direction of the return movement of said printing unit to permit the printing unit to pass the center and return to oii.c center position.

6. A structure defined .in claim 5 having means for returning the ink container to center after the printing unit has returned to its 01T center position.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A SELF-INKING HAND STAMP COMPRISING A BASE FRAME, A DEPRESSIBLE SUB-FRAME SUPPORTED BY SAID BASE FRAME, A PRINTING UNIT ROTATABLY SUPPORTED AT THE LOWER END OF SAID SUB-FRAME TO ROTATE UPON THE DEPRESSION OF SAID DEPRESSIBLE SUB-FRAME TO ROTATE UPON THE DEPRESSION OF SAID DEFRAME ABOVE SAID PRINTING UNIT, AN OPENING AT THE LOWER END OF SAID INK CONTAINER, A ROLLER ROTATABLY SUPPORTED AT THE LOWER END OF SAID INK CONTAINER AND BLOCKING SAID OPENING BUT ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE INK FROM SAID INK CONTAINER BY GRAVITY FLOW, MEANS ON SAID PRINTING UNIT AND ON SAID ROLLER COOPERATING TO ROTATE SAID ROLLER WITH EACH DOWNWARD ACTUATION OF SAID DEPRESSIBLE SUB-FRAME TO EXPOSE A NEW INKING SURFACE ON SAID ROLLER TO SAID PRINTING UNIT BEFORE SAID PRINTING UNIT ENGAGES SAID INKING ROLLER, SAID MEANS PERMITTING SAID PRINTING UNIT TO RETURN ON THE UPSTROKE WITHOUT ROTATING SAID ROLLER. 